Different Genetics for Hairline and Crown Balding?

Dear Doctor Rassman,

I read a recent post on your blog and it got me thinking.

-Propecia usually does work on the crown.
-Propecia usually doesn’t work on the hairline.
-Propecia blocks DHT.

Is there a posiibility that the genetics of frontal balding and crown balding are different?

-The baldness on the crown is more dependant on adrogens then frontal baldness.
-Maybe crown baldness is more of a result of the androgen receptor mutation then frontal baldness.

It’s just some random thoughts.

Genetics for front balding and crown balding are different, and there is a Norwood classification to describe the differences.

I suspect there are some differences in how the DHT affects the crown versus the front, but I do not think it has anything to do with mutations as you suggest. I think we have not completely solved all the mechanisms of why we bald, and I’m suspicious that much of the different rates of balding has to do with the length of duration of the balding process.

So far only DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is recognized as the hormone that relates to balding, but it does not mean it is the only hormone related to balding. I suspect there are other discoveries to be made.